Indian golfer Aditi Ashok is hoping to make up for a near-miss in Tokyo by winning an Olympic medal this week. Her journey to Paris was anything but straightforward, as she rushed to catch a flight after an LPGA Tour event in Portland, USA, on Sunday. Ashok only arrived in the French capital late Monday evening, having flown from Portland to London before a delayed connecting flight from Heathrow. Despite the frantic travel, she will tee off in the third group of Wednesday’s first round at 09:22 am.
Ashok’s journey was a testament to her dedication. “When I holed out, my dad — well, my caddie, obviously my dad, went straight to the car to pack the golf bag,” she said on Tuesday. “I submitted the card and I was like, ‘Ok, just make sure I sign it’ because I didn’t want to forget. “Then I just got to the car, packed my golf bag, had a shower and I think we were in the airport within 30 minutes of holing my last putt… Catching the flight was the hardest part.”
The 26-year-old insists she will not be under-prepared despite the demanding schedule, having practiced at the Olympic venue Le Golf National ahead of last month’s Evian Championship. This will be Ashok’s fifth consecutive week playing a tournament. “I feel like some stuff would have changed, and I need to figure that stuff out today,” she added. “I don’t think I’m as under-prepared as maybe people would think I am.”
Three years ago in Tokyo, Ashok finished fourth, just one shot behind bronze medalist Lydia Ko and two strokes adrift of champion Nelly Korda. This time, she hopes to go at least one better, seeking to add to India’s medal haul. India has already won three medals in Paris, all in shooting, and is aiming to match its record-breaking tally of seven from the Tokyo Games.
“These events I think are so much different than a regular event,” said Ashok. “So many people back home watch golf just because it’s in the Olympics. So it’s like a different demographic of people who get to watch me play which is cool.”
India will also be represented by 167th-ranked Diksha Dagar in Paris. Shubhankar Sharma finished tied-40th in the men’s competition, two shots ahead of fellow Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar.
